Uncle Marv's IT Business Podcast (Products, stories, and tips for the MSP and IT Professional)

I sat down with Dave Sobel to talk about why too many MSPs are leaving AI out of their websites, client conversations, and service offerings. We dig into AI governance, shadow AI, Microsoft Copilot, and why simply asking better questions can create real business opportunities.AI is everywhere. It is at every conference, in every vendor presentation, and in every customer conversation. Yet Dave’s research found that 68% of roughly 3,600 MSP websites do not mention AI at all. That means a lot of providers may be invisible to prospects looking for guidance, services, or simply a trusted technology partner who has a point of view.We talked about the difference between being an AI expert and being willing to lead the conversation. Most clients do not have an AI policy. They may not know which tools employees are using, what data is being shared, or whether shadow AI is already happening inside the business. That is not a reason for an MSP to stay quiet. It is an opening to help clients understand what is happening, develop guardrails, and make informed decisions without becoming the department of no.Dave also walked through the updated Version 5 of the Free MSP Checklist, which now includes AI and compliance considerations alongside the traditional infrastructure and cloud questions. We also spent time on the GTIA acquisition of ASCII, the changing landscape of MSP communities, and why it makes sense to be in more than one room as the channel evolves.=== Chapters00:24 Welcome and Meet Dave Sobel02:10 Free MSP Checklist: AI and Compliance Updates03:53 Why MSP Websites Are Missing the AI Conversation09:06 Client AI Policies and the Value of MSP Guidance11:57 The Buyer Journey, Referrals, and Website Visibility16:01 Defining AI Services with Copilot, ChatGPT, and Claude18:53 AI Governance and Shadow AI Opportunities22:02 GTIA Acquires ASCII: Impact on MSP Communities29:49 Resources, Business of Tech, and Closing=== Guest: Dave Sobel, MSP RadioWebsite: https://www.davesobel.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davesobel=== Companies / Vendors / Products / BooksMSP Radio: https://www.mspradio.com/The Business of Tech: https://www.businessof.tech/Small Biz Thoughts: https://www.smallbizthoughts.org/IT Service Provider University: https://www.itspu.com/Free MSP Checklist, Version 5: https://freemspchecklist.com/ChatGPT: https://openai.com/chatgpt/OpenAI: https://openai.com/Claude: https://www.anthropic.com/claudeAnthropic: https://www.anthropic.com/SolarWinds: https://www.solarwinds.com/Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA): https://gtia.org/The ASCII Group: https://gtia.org/asciiNational Society of IT Service Providers (NSITSP): https://www.nsitsp.org/MSPAlliance: https://www.mspalliance.com/=== SPONSORS:Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoipTravel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugridDigital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready === SHOW MUSIC:Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireItem License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Connect with Uncle Marv🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/🎙 Host: Marvin Bee🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcastIf you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

I had a great conversation with Alex and Mariana of MyPCFriends Cybersecurity, a husband-and-wife MSP team based in Kissimmee, Florida. Their story starts with Alex’s computer engineering and break-fix work in Venezuela, continues through the challenges of rebuilding in the United States, and arrives at a business that is more intentional about managed services, cybersecurity, compliance, and serving the right clients. They are now focused on financial services and insurance organizations, with clients extending beyond Florida.=== Chapters=== Guests: Alex Villamizar and Mariana ArriettaMyPCFriends Cybersecurity: https://mypcfriends.comMariana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariana-arrieta-mypcfriends/Alexis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-mypcfriends/ === SPONSORS:Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoipTravel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugridDigital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready === SHOW MUSIC: Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireItem License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Connect with Uncle Marv🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/🎙 Host: Marvin Bee🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcastIf you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

Tom Bull of Two River Computer joins me for a practical conversation about building an MSP around trust, community, and the work clients actually need. Tom shares how his business grew from computer repair and consulting into managed IT, residential technology, Wi-Fi, smart-home projects, and cybersecurity, all while serving smaller businesses that larger MSPs often overlook. We talk about referral relationships, local visibility, Google reviews, and why listening to the customer can matter more than following every piece of conventional channel advice.We also get into the realities of controlled growth and modern security. Tom explains why he paused new-client onboarding when his team hit capacity, how he thinks about profit over revenue, and why he is careful about taking on work he cannot support well. We cover AI use policies, Microsoft 365 protection, SentinelOne Vigilance, Petra, ThreatLocker, Ubiquiti, SonicWall, backups, identity security, and the layered approach MSPs need to keep clients protected without overcomplicating the stack.=== Chapters01:52 Meet Tom Bull of Two River Computer04:22 Tom Bull’s Tech Career and MSP Origin Story10:01 Building a Community-Driven Local IT Business13:17 Growing an MSP by Giving Clients What They Want17:42 Small-Business MSP Niches, Pricing, and Referral Partnerships22:15 AI Policies, Shadow AI, and MSP Liability Concerns30:04 Building a Layered Security Stack With SentinelOne and Petra32:46 ThreatLocker, AutoElevate, and Application Control38:38 TechCon Unplugged, 1Stream, and TruGrid Sponsor Message41:09 Working on the Business and Finding MSP Profitability49:11 Local SEO, Google Reviews, and Profitable Hardware Sales53:10 Ubiquiti, Managed Switches, and Network Visibility56:49 SonicWall vs. Ubiquiti Gateway Security01:08:53 Developing Future Leaders at Two River Computer=== Guest: Tom Bull, Two River ComputerWebsite: https://www.tworivercomputer.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tworivercomputer=== EventsTechCon Unplugged: https://techconunplugged.com/Discount Code: TCUMarvin=== Companies / Vendors / Products / BooksSynchro: https://syncrosecure.com/SentinelOne Vigilance: https://www.sentinelone.com/services/vigilance/Petra Security: https://www.petrasecurity.com/Huntress: https://www.huntress.com/ThreatLocker: https://www.threatlocker.com/AutoElevate: https://www.cyberfox.com/platforms/autoelevate-by-cyberfox/SonicWall: https://www.sonicwall.com/Ubiquiti: https://ui.com/Proofpoint: https://www.proofpoint.com/Domotz: https://www.domotz.com/Auvik: https://www.auvik.com/Cork: https://www.corkinc.com/Tech Marketing Engine: https://techmarketingengine.com/The Pumpkin Plan: https://amzn.to/4yp2XxzDiscount Code: TCUMarvin=== SPONSORS:Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoipTravel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugridDigital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready=== SHOW MUSIC:Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireItem License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Connect with Uncle Marv🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/🎙 Host: Marvin Bee🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcastIf you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

Sean Lardo, better known around the channel as Mr. IT Nation, joined me for a special conversation following the announcement of the IT Nation PitchIT 2026 finalists: Lemhi, Synthreo, and Blacksmith InfoSec. After a 16-week competitive cohort built around coaching, refinement, and practice, these three companies are now preparing to take the stage at IT Nation Connect Global in Orlando.=== Chapters00:23 PitchIT 2026 Finalists Announcement01:47 Meet Sean Lardo of IT Nation03:07 Behind the PitchIT Finalist Reveal06:01 How PitchIT Vendors Refine Their Message08:40 Uncle Marv’s PitchIT Rankings and Prize Debate11:12 MSP Feedback on PitchIT Vendor Interviews13:22 Preparing Vendors for Real Sales Conversations14:14 The Best Questions MSPs Should Ask Vendors17:04 Evaluating Vendor Fit Beyond Price19:12 What to Expect at PitchIT Orlando21:09 Finalist Congratulations and IT Nation Connect Closing=== Guest: Sean Lardo, ConnectWise / The IT NationWebsite: https://www.connectwise.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanlardo=== Companies / Vendors / Products / BooksConnectWise: https://www.connectwise.com/The IT Nation: https://itnation.connectwise.com/PitchIT: https://itnation.connectwise.com/pitchitIT Nation Connect Global: https://itnation.connectwise.com/connect-globalLemhi: https://lemhi.com/Synthreo: https://synthreo.ai/Blacksmith InfoSec: https://blacksmithinfosec.com/=== SPONSORS:Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoipTravel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugridDigital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready=== SHOW MUSIC:Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireItem License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Connect with Uncle Marv🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/🎙 Host: Marvin Bee🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcastIf you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

I am catching up on the latest NSITSP activity from August, and there was a lot worth paying attention to. From election and governance updates to advocacy around AI, cybersecurity, right-to-repair, and data centers, I wanted to bring these conversations to the podcast because they affect the business environment MSPs are working in every day. What stood out most to me is that the IT industry needs more than good technicians and great tools. We need people who are willing to get involved, educate clients and lawmakers, document what works, and make sure our voices are heard. I also share why better client employee onboarding may be one of the simplest ways to lower ticket volume, improve client experience, and give your help desk some breathing room. === Chapters 00:08 Welcome to the NSITSP August Update 00:22 NSITSP’s Mission for MSPs and IT Pros 01:16 2026 Election Schedule and Governance Changes 02:35 Cyber and AI Apprenticeship Advocacy Win 03:08 Why IT Must Influence Technology Policy 03:41 Better Onboarding to Reduce Support Tickets 04:35 Trupeer AI for Videos, SOPs, and Documentation 05:30 Data Centers, Zoning, and Community Impact === People Mentioned Steve Kazan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevekazan Travis Woods: https://www.linkedin.com/in/traviswoods Corey Kirkendoll: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykirkendoll  === Companies / Vendors / Products / Books National Society of IT Service Providers (NSITSP): https://nsitsp.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NSITSP/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/nsitsp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-society-of-it-service-providers/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NSITSP Trupeer AI: https://www.trupeer.ai/ Gunjan Sengupta: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gunjan-sengupta-354422ab/ Welcome Aboard, Training Reduces Support Calls: https://nsitsp.org/event/welcome-aboard-training-reduces-support-calls/ === SPONSORS: Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/ Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoip Travel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugrid Digital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready === SHOW MUSIC: Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock Logo Item URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UET Author Username: AlexanderRufire Item License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Connect with Uncle Marv🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/🎙 Host: Marvin Bee🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcastIf you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.